Netflix Tests Video Promos Between TV Show Episodes

[ActionableMango]

That’s what people said about cable. No they wont! We pay for cable we don’t pay the mainstream.

You obviously did not read what I replied to, or you completely failed to understand it.

He said Netflix will force you to watch entire Netflix Original episodes in between non-Netflix episodes. I said that they won't do that.

Famous last words! (Again.)

You seriously think that in two years time, Netflix will force viewers to watch entire Netflix episodes in between non-Netflix episodes? That's idiotic. I would bet good money against that.

 

[ignatius345]

They are promoting other content within Netflix.

They aren't showing commercials. It is PROMOTIONAL VIDEO.

Example: You just watched an episode of The Office, now a video runs with the credits for Parks & Rec. Or you just watched Stranger Things and a video runs promoting Orange is the New Black.

Understand? They aren't commercials. They are PROMOTIONAL VIDEOS for their current content.

"PROMOTIONAL VIDEO" = ADVERTISING

WE ALL UNDERSTAND WHAT ADS ARE, THANKS

 

[azentropy]

We all knows it is coming... HBO has been increasing their ads for on demand content as well.

 

[SDRacerR1]

This is not as bad as everyone is thinking. There are no "commercials" and you physically have to interact with the menu.

1. Your "binging" continues in 15 seconds automatically.

2. The only "advertisement" is a side scroll interface of what ever show they want to promote.

3. You physically have to use your remote to select the show they are "advertising" to play the trailer or add it to your list. Otherwise your current show continues to play

 

[neliason]

While it's true there are Netflix Fanbois who think anything the company does is golden (look at the defenders of these ads on this thread, for instance), it seems apparent that many of their subscribers aren't watching the self-produced stuff. So, of course, Netflix's solution is to just shove it even further into our faces.

I don’t know how popular their self produced content is. I know I’ve really enjoyed some of it. But a lot I have no interest in or I tried and didn’t find interesting. Like any network it seems they make somewhat diverse content aimed for different demographics. My point is I don’t think they expect all their subscribers to watch all or maybe even most of their self produced content.

 

[BWhaler]

No. Just no.

We don’t want ads of any kind. Has Netflix forgotten one of its most fundamental value propositions?

 

[friedmud]

I’m torn on this. On the one hand I hope it doesn’t start the slow decline of Netflix into advertising...

But on the other hand Netflix has SO MUCH stuff on it now that it could be useful.

I actually wouldn’t mind a little Netflix “show” every week that lasts maybe 5 minutes that gives you updates on the new stuff, etc...

 

[827538]

Netflix produces some great stuff but with the recent price increases and now this I’d be hesitant to continue paying for it.

Fortunately I don’t pay for my Netflix (parents happily share theirs as they feel they get better use out of it for their money that way). I’d probably just go back to only getting Netflix for the months I used it if I wasn’t getting it for free, there’s only a couple of months out of the year when really worthwhile stuff comes out like Mindhunters or Stanger Things.
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I’m torn on this. On the one hand I hope it doesn’t start the slow decline of Netflix into advertising...

But on the other hand Netflix has SO MUCH stuff on it now that it could be useful.

I actually wouldn’t mind a little Netflix “show” every week that lasts maybe 5 minutes that gives you updates on the new stuff, etc...

I think Netflix’s business model helps ensure it keeps a high standard as it’s so easy to just quit and rejoin that customers don’t feel there’s anything to lose by quitting.

 

[Zxxv]

All of 30 seconds while the credits roll? Again, unpaid promotional videos are just that, PROMOTIONAL VIDEOS. They aren't commercials. They aren't PAID ADVERTISEMENTS.

I really don't understand what the problem here is.

30 seconds of my time being stolen adds up over time. I signed up to avoid broadcast TV habits. Whats so hard to understand? maybe you are new to Netflix. Me. I've been there since the beginning and this is a backwards move. They don't need to do it. They should improve the interface instead of falling back on incompetence.

 

[KPandian1]

But on the other hand Netflix has SO MUCH stuff on it now that it could be useful.

I actually wouldn’t mind a little Netflix “show” every week that lasts maybe 5 minutes that gives you updates on the new stuff, etc...

Or they could run an indexing website - like, Instantwatcher, or Netflix!

 

[LinusR]

Netflix is testing a new feature

Ahh... that's what they call them these days.

 

[Ruggy]

I would hate this and I am still amazed that Netflix thinks their recommendations are useful.
Why is it for example, that I get a whole list of recommendations based on,’Your interest in...’ For a show I watched for two minutes and hated?
Why is a show that I absolutely love flagged up as being in the 60% interest bracket for me, whereas things I absolutely loathe pop-up at 98%? it isn’t other people using my profile either.

Before they start force-feeding me recommendations between episodes, They really need to start doing better at understanding what I like and don’t like.

And I wish that when they sent me an email for a new device login, it really was a new device login and not because someone’s cleared their browser history.

Having half a dozen alerts a week means that if there is ever unusual activity I certainly won’t take any notice of it.

 

[KPandian1]

I would hate this and I am still amazed that Netflix thinks their recommendations are useful.
Why is it for example, that I get a whole list of recommendations based on,’Your interest in...’ For a show I watched for two minutes and hated? ...

They've lost their algorithm Mojo.

 

[apolloa]

Hmm how long will it be before they do product adverts? Just like normal telly then.
Hopefully the feedback will be so bad they’ll scrap this idea.
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How do I tell Netflix to **** off with this? Asking for a friend.

Oh yeah, for a friend you say...

Just use Twitter like the ones being tested is probably best, it’s public then, hey won’t like that as it’ll look bad for them.

 

[KPandian1]

I actually wouldn’t mind a little Netflix “show” every week that lasts maybe 5 minutes that gives you updates on the new stuff, etc...

They can run a previews "show" all the time, their model allows this. It can be 2 minutes, 5 minutes or 30 minutes long, I don't care. If that exists, then I can choose to go to it and click and sit and watch their promos for the rest of their content, and then CHOOSE to watch any of the shows they promote - tag them for later use.

Never for the in-between episodes adverts, no matter who gets NOT-Paid for the effort; I am paying to NOT see this crap, as I am forced to in regular TV. Solved most of it by subscribing to (paid) Netflix, Prime, etc., and also with paid TiVo "Skip" for most regular TV I do watch.

 

[Moonjumper]

A major reason I stopped subscribing to Now TV (UK TV streaming) was the unskippable ad before a show for other content. At least this trial is skippable, but still a dowgrade.

 

[Porco]

Amazon Prime already do this kind of thing, it’s irritating. They all seem determined to ruin the experience. I don’t want automatic skipping of credits, I don’t want ‘helpful’ age ratings appearing, I don't want auto-playing video when browsing. I just want to browse or search for titles and play when I press play, and not show me anything else or assume ‘knowledge’ of what I want. Arggh.

It’s like they have bored UI designers who have to keep meddling to justify their jobs.

 

[foobarbaz]

They are promoting other content within Netflix.

They aren't showing commercials. It is PROMOTIONAL VIDEO.

Example: You just watched an episode of The Office, now a video runs with the credits for Parks & Rec. Or you just watched Stranger Things and a video runs promoting Orange is the New Black.

Understand? They aren't commercials. They are PROMOTIONAL VIDEOS for their current content.

Please stop yelling.

We don't care about the minor semantic difference between "commercials" and "promotional videos". Whether Netflix gets paid for them doesn't change the amount of annoyance they cause. It doesn't matter if they're promoting their own content or something else. It only matters that they're interrupting what you want to see with something you don't want to see.

 

[Blackstick]

Yes, these are called commercials.

 

[twistedpixel8]

ads. they're called ads.

I always ADS. Better accuracy.

 

[thisisnotmyname]

they don't make it easy to provide feedback but if you go to "Help Center" there are contact links at the bottom of the page. I clicked on chat and typed up a brief note about how deeply disappointed I am in this and I'm considering canceling my account. They thanked me for my feedback and said they will forward on to the group conducting the trial.

 

[McG2k1]

Uh oh, shades of MoviePass. It’s bad enough that their promos play at blast volume the second I land on the poster for a show or movie. I hope they give this a second thought.

 

[Romeo_Nightfall]

Be careful Netflix ... we hate ads. Amazon already doing this crap!
Better fire all your ad people and save the costs for quality content.

Netflix is testing a new feature that adds video promos in between episodes of TV shows, Netflix confirmed to TechCrunch this afternoon.

The promos Netflix is showing to some users include full-screen personalized videos with content recommendations similar to Netflix recommendations available elsewhere on Netflix.

According to TechCrunch, the promotional videos displace preview information for the next episode of a TV show, with title, description, and thumbnail no longer visible.

Many Netflix users on Reddit and Twitter who have the new video promos have been complaining about them, with multiple threats to cancel the service if Netflix does indeed introduce promotional videos.

TechCrunch says that this is not a feature that is rolling out to subscribers at this time, but is instead a test that Netflix is running to determine how to better promote content.

Still, a small percentage of Netflix's global audience is impacted by the test, which is ongoing.
While some users have said the ads are not skippable, it does appear that customers are able to continue on with an episode at any time, bypassing the promotional video, a feature that has been confirmed by Netflix.

Article Link: Netflix Tests Video Promos Between TV Show Episodes

 

[JRobinsonJr]

THEY AREN'T ADVERTISEMENTS. Why is this so hard? They are PROMOTIONAL VIDEOS for THEIR OWN CONTENT. NO ONE IS GETTING PAID.

While you are correct in the most technical sense, please differentiate for us between "Promotional" and "Advertisement". I ask b/c from my perspective - and apparently many others - the net difference is zero. Doesn't matter if they are getting paid by an external entity or are just pushing their own content.

 

[supercoolmanchu]

So I’m guessing Netflix won’t be fixing the major issues with their app.

Instead they’re doubling doubt on their horrible UI layout and bloat.

Netflix does realize a Disney streaming service is coming right?